In the midst of all the bad news that regularly bombards us, is it really possible that God just may have some good news for us that isn’t just a happy, hollow hope? To answer this question, it is first necessary to understand how we got to where we are today as recounted through the Bible, where we can also learn more about God and His purpose for even making us to begin with.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth and everything in it…and everything that God made was very good. (1)

Of all God created and gave life to, human-beings alone God elevated to a very special place in His creation by forming us in His very own image.  He did so by endowing us with amazing capabilities and intelligence, along with a capacity and freedom to willingly love and obey Him, or not, all with the intended purpose of having us enjoy a direct and personal relationship with Him.  God then bestowed upon us the authority and responsibility to govern His earthly creation with wisdom and care, with the ultimate purpose of bringing glory to Him. (2)

Along the way, however, something very tragic happened.  The very first human beings, Adam and Eve, committed an act of treason against God.  They allowed themselves to be lured away by the evil one and deceived into disobeying the one rule that God gave them in the Garden of Eden: not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, lest they should die.  The consequence for this treasonous act against our Creator was the introduction of sin and death in the world, and of God placing all of creation under a curse.  Since then, humanity has been a fallen race, living in open hostility and rebellion towards our Creator God. (3)

…Is it any surprise then that the daily news is filled with endless stories of violence, hatred, poverty, greed, injustice, pollution, addictions, broken relationships, betrayal, illness, and death?  There is something in each of us that knows we are broken and incomplete on our own.  Our fallen, broken state is further evidenced by the fact that we collectively spend millions of dollars on self-help books, therapy, the latest elixirs, fads, new cars, new wardrobes, new relationships, or even drugs, trying to figure out a way to “fix” ourselves.  The sad truth is that there are no human or earthly remedies for our condition, and we can spend most of our lives in denial of this reality, jumping from one quick fix to another, trying to fill the empty void in our hearts that only our Creator can fill.

But because God created us in His very own image, He endowed us with the ability to appreciate the amazing beauty and intelligence of His creation and to have a desire and hope for a better future.  He also endowed within us a deep capacity for love, and a desire to see things be made right in the world.  In an attempt to make the world a better place, we humans engage in a multitude of noble efforts to save the planet, to end injustice, to end poverty, to bring about world peace, etc.  And yet, the Bible tells us that because, as a human race, we collectively live in this continual state of hostility towards our Creator, denying His place in our lives, our sin condition is chronic and fatal, and any attempts to fix ourselves or our world are ultimately doomed to fail.

The  Bible says that no amount of good deeds we can ever do will ever be good enough to make up for our sinful condition: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” – Isaiah 64:6 NIV.  “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”– Romans 3:23 NIV. Because of this, God’s righteous wrath and just judgment are ever upon us as a human race, and as individuals.  As long as we fail to seek to make peace with Him, we are condemned to spend our eternity in total separation from our Creator.

In the midst of this tragic state of affairs, what then is God’s good news?

The Bible, which is God’s own message of love and hope to us, tells us that from the very beginning God has planned and prepared a way for our redemption, reconciliation, and restoration.  God’s good news is this: “…that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you” – Acts 13:38 NIV.  From the very start, God made plans to send His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to pay the righteous and just penalty for our sin by shedding His blood on the cross and dying on our behalf, and then by conquering death through His resurrection from the dead.

  • “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…” – Romans 8:1 NIV
  • “…and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.” – Romans 3:24-25 NIV

So how can God’s free gift of forgiveness and salvation be received?  Simply by confessing our sinful condition before God, by putting our trust in Jesus’ death on the cross to pay for our sins, and by receiving His Son Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, anyone can become an heir to the blessed assurance of eternal life with Him. This amazing promise is to be received by faith in the righteousness of Christ Himself, not on any good deeds or righteous works of our own.  Consider the following verses and promises from the Bible:

  • “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” – John 1:12 NIV
  • “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-17 ESV
  • “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” – Romans 5:1-2a NIV
  •  “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” – Romans 10:13 NIV
  • “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:19-23 ESV

Once we make the decision to put our faith in Jesus Christ for our salvation, God then adopts us into His eternal family where we become sons and daughters of the Most High God.  With this spiritual adoption also comes the rights and privileges of the inheritance that He has promised to His children, as well as the free gift of the Holy Spirit to indwell us.  This indwelling of the Holy Spirit then regenerates us by causing us to be spiritually reborn, or born again, and He helps us to live for God.

  • “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” – John 3:5-7 ESV.
  • “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” – 1 Peter 1:3-5 NIV
  • “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” – Titus 3:4-7 NIV
  •  “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV

For many new believers, the receiving of the Holy Spirit, or spiritual rebirth, is a supernatural experience.  Others may not experience this rebirth in such a dramatic way, but instead suddenly begin to live in ways that they never before were able to do.  An example of this might be a person who previously lived their life filled with anger and hatred, but who is suddenly able to extend forgiveness, love, and joy to others.  Or, another person who previously struggled with an addiction gradually begins to experience freedom from its control.  Whatever your experience may be, others will soon begin to see many positive changes in you, some dramatic and others more gradual, as you begin to study God’s Word, fellowship with other believers, and truly live your life for Him.

  • “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
  • “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” – Galatians 5:22-23a ESV

Does God’s good news sound like good news to you and you would like to receive God’s free gift for yourself?  You can begin this new life today by praying an example of what is called the “sinners prayer” below directly to God:

Dear God,

I know that I am a sinner in need of your forgiveness.  Please forgive my sins through the work that Jesus did on the cross to pay the penalty that I deserve.  I want to receive your Son Jesus Christ into my heart today as my Lord and Savior for all time.  Please take control of my life and help me to live for You.

– In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

If you just prayed the sentiment of this prayer from your heart to God’s heart, congratulations and welcome into the family of God!  Be sure now to tell someone about this amazing decision that you just made and get connected with a Bible-based, Christ-centered church where you can begin learning more about how to live out your new life in Christ.  If you would like someone in our church to contact you about your next steps, just send us an email at connect@churchonthecorner.us.  Also be sure to check out our Growth Resources page on this website, or our Get Connected page to find out how to join a Bible study group.

Appendix:

(1)     Genesis 1:1,31; 1 Timothy 4:4

(2)     Genesis 1-2

(3)     Genesis 3